David Wieland

I'm not sure about saving the world, but gardening is certainly good for a gardener's body and soul -- unless marauding critters get the upper hand, that is.

M Ljin wrote:A lovely video on how to make gut strings by the medieval technique!
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This thread doesn't seem very concerned with musicality, but few contemporary players would find the ancient-style strings satisfying. Michael Jerome Brown, a Montreal musician, supplements his blues guitar work with a couple of tunes on a traditional African gourd banjo with gut strings. That provides an interesting contrast, because the sound is very different -- kind of rubbery.

I have mixed feelings about the "gentle" notion, because there are times, such as warning of a risky practice or option, where firmness is appropriate. But I'll take it to represent patience and communicating constructively. Those are valuable, and typical, aspects of posts to Permies forums.

I've found a few other forums (and YouTube channels), all related to doing/learning/making things, that have a similar orientation to constructive communication, but none are as wide-ranging as Permies. I'm glad that Paul created it and that it has thrived.

r ransom wrote:...
I was really worried I missed some sort of rule telling us G can't be used for melody

Rule? The only rule in music is that someone must play it! I think the word "play" is absolutely perfect here, because playing around -- experimenting -- and having fun is essential to developing musical ability and composing. Pete Seeger turned some of his banjo "play" into the Goofing-Off Suite.

Kevin Olson wrote:

David Wieland wrote:

Kevin Olson wrote: Laying the subfloor boards on the diagonal provides a stiffer floor

From the 1997 edition of Canadian Wood-Frame House Construction (p. 74):
Diagonal subflooring permits finish strip flooring to be laid either parallel to or across the joists.

Well, that makes good sense.  I wonder if that's the original reason for so doing, or if that's a convenient side effect?

I can't think of any other reason, because a subfloor doesn't need the bracing that diagonal cladding can give a wall.

Kevin Olson wrote: Laying the subfloor boards on the diagonal provides a stiffer floor

From the 1997 edition of Canadian Wood-Frame House Construction (p. 74):
Diagonal subflooring permits finish strip flooring to be laid either parallel to or across the joists.

The same source recommends 19 mm (nominal 1") thick boards, although 17 mm (11/16") can be used with 16" o.c. joists. Another book, Modern Carpentry, from 1969, says subfloor boards should not be more than 8" wide, which is understandable when you consider cross-grain stability.

I used 1x6" (nominal) fir for a cabin floor in 1971, but after that it was always 5/8" T&G plywood for my buildings.

Low frequency sounds travel far, subsonic sounds included. That's a major reason that people living in the vicinity of industrial wind turbines complain, because sound too low in frequency to be heard can still be sensed.
As for relying on remoteness for avoiding road noise, I recall decades ago visiting a remote property on a mountain in the interior of British Columbia and noticing sound from a highway miles away in the valley below, despite the intervening forest.

Matt McSpadden wrote:What subfloor options are there for solid wood or other natural materials?

I am planning an addition to my house. Somewhere in the range of 12x30ft. Everything I have ever done either used plywood or already had very old 150+ year old boards on it. Most of the 1x lumber I see these days doesn't seem strong enough for a subfloor. I supposed I could just line it with 2x4 or whatever dimension was cheapest. Are there options specifically for this?

What options have you heard about? What options are available near you?

I don't understand the concern about plywood, but 1" (nominal) boards is strong enough for a residential subfloor. If the species available to you seems too weak for joists on 16" centers, just reduce the spacing. Expect a squeaky floor. Tongue and groove subfloor plywood is not only much faster to install, but it's also quieter, especially if you include construction adhesive or cushioning on the joist tops. Perhaps cushioning could be used with a board subfloor, something like the flashing tape I used for "100 year joists" on my deck rebuild.